Get A Qualification In 'Sick Football Skills'

It’s only a few hours since Spain used their entertaining tiki-taka style to triumph over Italy in the final of Euro 2012. If you are feeling inspired and want to gain a qualification in a form of football closely associated with tiki-taka, then a west London football club may have the answer for you.

League 1 side Brentford are offering those aged 16 and 17 the chance to gain a BTEC in futsal – a type of football widely played across Europe and South America.

Futsal is played between two sides of five with a ball partially filled with foam so it doesn’t bounce. The game aims to increase players’ close control and passing skills, rather than just ‘lumping it up to the big man’ – a trait highly practised in the English game. Futsal has been credited with helping the development of Spain’s Xavi and CescFabragas, as well as the likes of Leo Messi and serial sunbed user Cristiano Ronaldo. Even Zinedine Zidane is still playing it (plus, it gives us an excuse to link to skills like these)...

With England’s approach to the beautiful game currently making them as likely to lift a trophy as San Marino, Brentford are trying to bring a more technical element to their young footballers’ game by introducing them to futsal.

The Bees currently have futsal and education scholarships available and are looking for candidates aged 16 and 17 to fill them. The scholarship starts in September and will be based in the Brentford area. It will give youngsters the chance to earn qualifications – worth the equivalent of three A-Levels – that will help them gain employment in the sport and leisure industry. Participants will also train and compete in a professional futsal environment for Brentford FC.